The distribution of Indonesia's population has long been an issue of major concern to policymakers during both the colonial and independence periods. There have been several attempts to influence the flow of population from rural areas to cities. The 1980 census results showed that some significant differences in patterns of population redistribution had occurred during the 1970s to those which took place in the 1960s and were reflected in the 1971 census results. The most prominent features were an increased redistribution of population into urban areas with a net migration gain of some 5 million being recorded in urban areas accounting for 52% of the urban population increase and a substantial increase in the net displacement of population out of Java into the other islands. The present paper analyzes the results of the 1985 intercensal survey to establish any major changes which have occurred in patterns of distribution and redistribution of the population.